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Harpo Case Study

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Running head: CASE STUDY – HARPO

Case Study – Harpo

Case Background & Overview
Harpo is an organization whose entire existence relies on one person with extreme amounts of power and influence (Colquitt, J. A., Lepine, J. A., & Wesson, M. J., pg.283). Being that the company relies heavily on one individual to be successful, there are definite questions that are brought up regarding the strength of sustainment and longevity of the company.
Case Study What are the potential dangers of having one super-powerful leader of an organization (Colquitt, J. A., Lepine, J. A., & Wesson, M. J., pg.474)?
One potential danger is relying too much on the actual power of the leader to continue the success of the organization. The company must be well-structured at the top management levels and provide lateral responsibilities, instead of being so totalitarian. The company’s senior management must lead the whole team to not only manage vertically, but also to work collaboratively and laterally with their peers, the other managers. This will build a solid management structure that will thrive in troubled times and allow for strong problem solving. How might Winfrey go about ensuring that Harpo survives after her departure or in the event of a loss of faith on the part of the public? Is it possible to have a true leadership succession plan in these circumstances (Colquitt, J. A., Lepine, J. A., & Wesson, M. J., pg.474)?
As with any proven succession plan, a strong company vision must be present to make the plan effective. Along with a strong company vision, the management team must be comprised of committed individuals with the skills to foster the corporate culture that Oprah has established. Oprah must look for people to be part of her management team who are self-motivated, ambitious and who will never be satisfied of merely being “part of the

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